COMPARISON-AND-CONTRAST ESSAY HOW THINGS ARE SIMILAR.
When you compare, you consider how things are similar. When you contrast, you consider how things are different. A comparison-and-Contrast essay can examine how things are similar, how they are different, or how they are both similar and different. 1. A comparison-and-contrast essay should have a thesis sentence that tells readers whether the essay is going to discuss similarities, differences, or both. The thesis sentence should also make clear the main point of the comparison—why you are comparing or contrasting the two subjects. For example, “My senior prom was nothing like what I expected” or “My two roommates have the same opinions about why people cheat on their spouses.” 2. A comparison-and-contrast essay should include enough support—examples and details—to make the similarities and difference clear to readers. [unique_solution]A comparison-and-contrast essay should discuss the same or similar points for both subjects, one by one. Points should be arranged in logical order—for example, using either chronology or emphasis. Writing Assignment Write an essay in which you compare or contrast your life in the real world with your life in an imagined “perfect world.” If the purpose of your writing is to inform, your essay will be serious. If your purpose is to entertain, your essay may be humorous. Prewriting a. As your “real life” and “ideal life” are too broad for an essay, choose three specific areas to focus on. You might select any of the areas below or think of a specific area yourself. Work Friends Money Possessions Romance Housing Physical location Talents Personal appearance b. Write the name of one of your three areas for example, “Work”) across the top of a page. Divide the page into two columns. Label one column “real world” and the other “perfect world.” Under “real world,” write down as many details as you can think of describing your real-life work situation. Under “perfect world,” write down details describing what your perfect work life would be like. Repeat the process on separate pages for your other two major areas. c. Remember to write a topic sentence for your paragraphs. Here’s an example: “In my perfect world, my life would be quite different in the areas of work.” d. Decide which approach you will take: one side at a time or point by point. e. Write a scratch outline that reflects the format you have selected. The outline for a point by point format would look like this: Thesis sentence: In my perfect world, my life would be quite different in the areas of work, money, and housing. 1. Work a. Real-life work b. Perfect-world work 2. Money a. Real-life money b. Perfect-world money 3. Housing a. Real-life housing b. Perfect-world housing The outline for a one-side-at-a-time format would look like this: Thesis Sentence: In my perfect world, my life would be quite difference in the areas of work, money, and housing. 1. Real Life a. Work b. Money c. Housing 2. Perfect world a. Work b. Money c. Housing f. Drawing from the three pages of details you generated in step b, complete your outline by jotting down your strongest supporting details for each point. g. Write the first draft of your essay.